All courses, craft kits and handcrafted gifts in South West

COVID UPDATE: We are limiting the number of attendees to 6 for the time being as this allows for good social distancing within the forge. We will have doors and windows open as required for good ventilation so perhaps wear a few layers when you come if the weather doesn’t look so good. Can you handle the heat? Want to experience what it takes to make your own knife? Under the tutelage of Graham, David & Decklan Clarke you will learn to make a fully useable carbon steel knife. During...

2022 could be your year to learn a new, old painting technique. Painting with molten beeswax, damar resin and pigments is just SO satisfying. Spend a day with Lyn Kirkland in her Studio on the beautiful Isle of Portland in Dorset. This unusual and dramatic coastal location offers so much inspiration for my work, and I hope will inspire you too. I will share my knowledge and skills developed over several years experience of working with this ancient Egyptian painting medium. Still relatively unknown in the UK and across Europe,...

Our course is completely hands-on and student-led. You will design your own project, set your own working pace, and go home with your original metalwork sculpture. The day is facilitated by my two female metalworkers with broad experience in the industry. We will coach you through technical processes, as well as offering creative guidance and inspiriation. WTF Workshops (Women Teaching Fabrication) offers a one-day intensive course, suitable for all levels of experience. Consecutive days can be booked if you'd like to do a larger or more complicated project, or if...

Make your very own seaglass ring or pendant. A one day taster course where you will learn basic silver smithing skills in sawing, filing, forming, soldering and finishing or come along to build on the skills you already have and make use of the workshop space and teaching environment. Courses start at 10am and run no later than 4.30pm with a short break for lunch in Corfe Mullen, Dorset. This course is suitable for all abilities from absolute beginners to advanced, we run small classes of up to 4 students....

This course caters for all abilities, from beginners to the more experienced and I offer one to one tuition throughout the day as required. My landscape courses often use the technique of appliqué - the fabrics being attached by either an electric or hand sewing machine. You can also opt to use a very simple hand technique using collage and iron-on bonding fabrics if you do not have or do not wish to use a sewing machine. Over the course of one day, you will learn the techniques of building...

In this workshop you will learn how to hoop up your fabric and set your machine up ready to create wonderfully wobbly lines. You’ll then get to grips with using your machine without feed dogs, ‘drawing’ with your machine and adding splashes of colour with fabrics. By the end of the class you’ll have a selection of sample pieces and have created your very own framed card to take away. You will learn how to: * Set your machine up ready for freehand machine embroidery * What Tools are required...

Suitable for the complete beginner and for those who have already tried making candles. We will guide you through making a selection of candles that you will be able to take home. Our courses are limited to 4 people per course. Spend an enjoyable couple of hours making candles from different waxes, including beeswax, choosing your own fragrances, colours and shapes. You will make a beeswax moulded candle, a container candle, a Pillar candle and a rolled beeswax candle and also have a go at making a dipped candle. Select...

A lamp shade making workshop using the gorgeous art of cyanotype printing. This is lampshade making with a difference, you get to design and make the sun printed material that you use to make your own lamp shade out of. You are making your own bespoke Lamp shade. Now Limited to 2 people per workshop to allow for social distancing and for a quality individual experience. This is a two part workshop, in the morning you learn sun printing techniques onto 100% cotton in order to make your own piece...

Still life textile art - a one day fabric collage workshop with Imogen Bitter This course caters for all abilities from complete beginner to the more experienced textile artist and I offer one to one tuition throughout the day as required. My textile still life courses have previously only used the technique of appliqué - the fabrics being attached by an electric or hand machine. I am introducing a collaging technique for those who do not have or do not wish to use a sewing machine. Both techniques will be...

A Kuksa is a traditionally hand carved Scandinavian wooden mug or bowl, used for eating and drinking. These two-day courses will cover all the rudiments of carving by hand and tool selection to create your very own beautiful and unique vessel, using traditional techniques and starting with a freshly-cut greenwood log. The principles and practicalities of tool sharpening will also be covered during this course. The course is run over two days to cater for individual designs and allow all abilities of student to achieve a great finish to their...